The film, starring Natalie Wood and Richard Beymer, becomes the second highest grossing movie of 1961. It goes on to win ten Academy Awards, including Best Picture. West Side Story won more Oscars than any other musical film to this day.

Both “Romeo and Juliet” and “West Side Story” deal with themes of love, fate, chance, and tragedy. But where the violence in Shakespeare’s play is centered around feuding households, “West Side Story” brought an element of racial awareness into the tale.

More than 50 years later, “West Side Story” is still a favorite.

Natalie Wood in “West Side Story”

Other events on this day in history

1956 21-year-old Elvis Presley slapped upside the head by irritated gas station manager after his presence draws small crowd of autograph seekers – Presley decks him1957 McCartney and Lennon play together for first time in John’s band, “The Quarrymen”1961 Movie version of Broadway musical “West Side Story” released1964 The Beatles record 6 album tracks, including “Eight Days a Week” and “Rock and Roll Music”1966 The Jimi Hendrix Experience plays first major show, opening for French pop star Johnny Hallyday at Paris’ Olympia Theatre1968 John Lennon and Yoko Ono arrested for marijuana possession at London apartment1969 Rod Stewart joins The Faces (formerly The Small Faces)1969 The Animals kick-off first headlining tour; also touring are Gene Vincent, Carl Perkins, the Nashville Teens and Tommy Tucker1969 The Jackson 5 first TV appearance on variety show “Hollywood Palace”1974 Soul singer Al Green attacked by flight attendant wielding boiling grits1975 Simon and Garfunkel perform for 2nd time on “Saturday Night Live” – the duo broke up in 1970, but reunited for the show1979 Musical “Beatlemania” opens in London1991 Los Angeles declares “Rocky Horror Picture Show Day” in honor 1975 cult classic1997 Hanson sings National Anthem for World Series opening game in Miami2000 Lead singer Zack de la Rocha quits Rage Against the Machine2005 Charlie Daniels honored as Icon at BMI Country Awards